Tuesday, March 3, 2015

New to the line up of cheesecakes is this simple but tasty one. No peanut butter like the other Snickers one I have made. Just a lovely, lighter caramel-y cake with chopped Snickers Bars.

What's not to like about that?!

For a 10 inch size:

Turn oven to 300°. Place a small pan of water on the bottom oven rack.

Prepare Spring Form pan lining the bottom with Parchment Paper, trimming the excess around the outside and lightly spraying the pan sides and bottom with non stick spray. Set aside

Crust:

2½ cups crushed chocolate cookie crumbs

6 Tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks

Place into food processor and process until completely incorporated. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.

For the cheesecake:

48 oz. cream cheese, room temp.

1½ cups brown sugar

6 large eggs

½ cup sour cream

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon all purpose flour

4-5 fun size Snickers candy bars,

cut into smallish pieces

In a mixer bowl ( I use a Bosch) beat the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. In a separate bowl combine the next 4 ingredients and beat with a hand beater until smooth. Pour into mixer bowl and beat just until incorporated, scraping sides as necessary. Don't over beat! Fold in the candy bar pieces. Pour over the baked crust. Place the Spring form pan onto a baking sheet and pop it into the oven for an hour. Sides should look a little puffed and dry and the center jiggle slightly when shook. Turn heat to off and prop oven door open with a wooden spoon handle for another hour. Remove cheesecake from the oven, run a thin, sharp knife around the edge and allow to cool completely before refrigerating. Refrigerate overnight or until cheesecake is cold throughout before removing the sides of the pan and placing onto serving platter.

Ganache:

1 cup mini milk chocolate chips

Heavy Cream, scalded

and just enough to bring it (barely) to the top of the mini chips

1 Tablespoon Light Karo

Caramel extract, to taste

I wanted this ganache to stay on top and not run down over the sides. If you want it to run, adjust the cream amount. I must say, the caramel extract in this topping really made it special! As in I-could-eat-this-entire-thing-with-a-spoon kind of special! So Yum!! Spread over top and garnish as desired.